Author and educator Jason McKenna describes how teaching STEM education in his elementary school changed his classroom and his life, improving his students’ and his own approaches to problem solving, collaboration, and general motivation to learn. Offering examples, tried and tested classroom projects, and collaborative strategies, this innovative resource opens up STEM education in K–6 classrooms in exciting and expansive new ways.

K–6 educators will:

• Understand the benefits and importance of STEM in elementary schools
• Build resiliency and curiosity in students
• Discover a variety of classroom instruction strategies to approach STEM assessment
• Read vignettes discussing STEM implementation across grade levels
• Use new strategies to engage and motivate student learning through voice and choice

Contents:

Part 1: Start STEM Early

Chapter 1: Inspiring Students With STEM Narratives

Chapter 2: Teaching STEM in Elementary School

Part 2: Discover STEM Learning Principles

Chapter 3: Focusing on Authentic Engagement, Choice, and Collaboration

Chapter 4: Creating Risk Takers

Part 3: Explore STEM Pedagogy

Chapter 5: Exploring STEM Teaching and Guided Discovery Learning

Chapter 6: Making Assessment Student Centered in Elementary STEM Classrooms

Chapter 7: Exploring STEM and Creativity

Chapter 8: Bringing It All Together

Epilogue

References and Resources

Index